The New Jewish Politic

Combative and fiesty, Larry Sternberg relishes the impact of his Libertarian views. When running in a congressional primary for Rep. Robert Badham's vacated District 47 seat, Sternberg advocated decriminalizing illegal drugs. Despite a lack of campaign resources, he stood out in a crowded field ultimately won by Christopher Cox. "It was fun; it was a crazy fling," said the semi-retired Tustin accountant.

Among historically liberal American Jews, Sternberg's conservative views -- about abortion, welfare, property rights and regulation -- defy conventional wisdom. Sternberg, 75, is convinced Jewish values begat conservative politics, a conclusion he forged during the Reagan presidency at a time of his own renewed interest in Judaism.

He calls on Jews to re-examine their politics in his new book, "Why Jews Should Not Be Liberals" (Ivy House, $20). "The author makes the impassioned and bracing argument that conservatism is the political philosophy most consonant with the value of the Torah," Michael Potemra wrote in July's National Review.

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